The Patriots, the NFL's highest-scoring team, equaled their single-game scoring record in a 59-24 win Sunday.

"The coaches want us to play aggressive," said Dennard, whose touchdown made it 45-17. "So that's what I was doing out there."

The first matchup between three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and Luck, the rookie from Stanford, was no match. Brady threw three touchdown passes. Luck threw three interceptions.

"They're good enough," Luck said. "They don't need those gifts, but to their credit, they created those and we didn't."

They might need them more after tight end Rob Gronkowski left the field with what the Patriots said was an arm injury with about four minutes left in the game. Comcast SportsNet New England reported X-rays showed Gronkowski had a broken arm. Neither the team nor Comcast SportsNet specified which arm was hurt.

Gronkowski caught two touchdown passes Sunday, giving him seven touchdown receptions in his past four games and 10 for the season. He finished the game with seven catches for 137 yards, The Patriots' other productive tight end, Aaron Hernandez, missed his third straight game and sixth overall after spraining his right ankle.

The Patriots' much-maligned pass defense finally made major contributions as newcomer Aqib Talib returned another interception for a touchdown, covering 59 yards. And Rob Ninkovich's fifth forced fumble of the season - knocking the ball from Luck's hand - set up Gronkowski's second scoring grab.

"We knew we couldn't come here and turn the football over and have a chance to win," Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians said. "We've got a lot of rookies out there so every week is a learning experience. It was a bad learning experience."

The Patriots won their fourth straight game and extended their lead in the AFC East to three games over the other three teams. The Colts had their four-game winning streak stopped by the NFL's best offense and one of its worst defenses.

Brady completed 24 of 35 passes for 331 yards and no interceptions. Luck was 27-for-50 for two touchdowns and 334 yards, setting an NFL record as the first rookie with five 300-yard games.